Why Is Tokyo Tower A Must See Destination In Japan?
Thursday, November 5, 2009

When you first set eyes on the Tokyo Tower, you will probably rub them and wonder if you aren’t actually in Paris instead.

You see, the tower originally took its inspiration from the Eiffel Tower, so the two do not look dissimilar. The tower has been an integral part of the Tokyo skyline for some fifty years now, and millions of people have had the privilege of exploring its levels and getting a grand view from the top.

But is it your turn now? It should be, because you cannot fail to be impressed by what you find there.

If you have only seen pictures of Tokyo Tower before, you might assume that all you can do is climb to the top to see what Tokyo looks like from over a thousand feet up in the air. But the tower has some surprises in store, and they start from the moment you arrive at its foot.

The very bottom of the tower has plenty to entertain you even if you decide not to go any further. For example there are galleries and museums here to browse round, and if that whets your appetite you can look forward to having a bite to eat in a restaurant too – all underneath the towering structure itself.

If you decide to take the best trip of all and head up the tower, there are two points at which you can get out and take a look around and across the city of Tokyo. If you want to go right to the top you will have to buy a special ticket which permits you to do so; otherwise simply buy a ticket for the first observation point the tower has to offer.

Needless to say if you are going to see the Tokyo Tower you should really head for the very top if you can. The pictures you can take from here with your camera will certainly earn their place in your photo album, so why not go the whole distance? You’ll be disappointed if you don’t.

Posted by Co-op Travel 12:34 AM 0 comments    

Japan targets 10 million tourists in 2010
Thursday, November 22, 2007

As the Northern Marianas struggles with tourism in a freefall because far fewer Japanese are traveling to Saipan, consider this: Japan wants 10 million inbound tourists in 2010. And Tokyo is sparing no yen to reach the target.

Since its launch four years ago, the national government's Yokoso Japan (visit Japan) campaign has seen its budget nearly double. In 2003, Japan spent Y2 billion, or $17.5 million to lure foreigners to the country. That amount increased to Y3.6 billion, or $31.5 million, last year. Tourism accounts for six percent of Japan's national income.

“Here in Japan, we rely more heavily on industries other than tourism. But we believe inbound tourism has a great potential to revitalize the economy,” says Tetsuro Hirata, senior director of the Japanese government's international tourism division, which is part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Currently, international tourism in Japan lacks balance. In 2005, for instance, the country sent 17.4 million travelers overseas but received only 6.73 million foreign visitors.

The disparity is reflected in travel spending. According to a 2004 study by the ministry, the travel industry generates Y24.4 trillion, or $213.7 billion, a year for the national economy. But only 6.7 percent of the total amount is contributed by foreign tourists. In dollar terms that is $14 billion a year.

The sizeable remainder is spent by the Japanese. This includes Y21.1 trillion, or $184.8 billion, on domestic trips, and Y1.7 trillion, or $14.89 billion, on preparations for trips abroad.

Tourism has a huge economic ripple effect, notes Hirata. In addition to the direct impact of travel spending, tourism creates jobs and production demand.

To increase inbound tourism, the Japan government launched Yokoso Japan-literally, “Welcome to Japan”-campaign in 2003. The goal: to have 10 million foreign tourists visiting Japan in 2010.

The campaign initially targeted five main markets: South Korea, China, the United States, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The United Kingdom, France, and Germany were added in the second year. Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Thailand followed in the third year.

Hirata said there is no plan to add any more to these so-called “priority markets.” The 12 countries account for 90 percent of total tourist arrivals to Japan.

South Korea is Japan's largest tourism market. Three in 10 foreigners visiting Japan are from its closest neighbor. Taiwan is the second largest, representing 18 percent of tourist arrivals to Japan. China (excluding Hong Kong) and the United States share the third spot with 11 percent each of the market share.

The Yokoso Japan campaign has been a success, says Hirata. International arrivals have hit a new record each year since 2003. The six million mark was reached for the first time in 2004. The following year, the tourism industry set a new benchmark of 6.73 million visitors.

To achieve the target of 10 million inbound travelers in 2010, arrivals must grow by 8.2 percent a year from 2005. The Yokoso Japan campaign is on track to reach this goal. Arrivals increased to 7.3 million in 2006, or by 9.6 percent from the previous year. A period-to-period comparison shows that arrivals have grown 13 percent as of August 2007.

The challenge for Japan now is to reach out to the high spending business traveler, even as it attempts to break from its image as an expensive destination.

“Business travelers, of course, have a greater economic impact-they stay in good hotels, eat good meals.. But the young travelers are potential repeat visitors. Once they start earning their own money, they will come back and spend more,” Hirata says.

Japan has made it a national goal to become Asia's top venue for international conventions. At the same time, the country's tourism board has launched the “Affordable Japan” campaign, offering tips to budget travelers.

For more information click here

Posted by Co-op Travel 7:33 AM 0 comments    

Tourism NZ aims to wow Japan

Tourism New Zealand is launching the largest New Zealand promotional event ever staged in Japan to coincide with a $1.8 million campaign.

Aimed to give the Japanese a fresh take on what New Zealand has to offer, the New Zealand Paradise Week will promote New Zealand's food and wine, fashion, music and the most up to date activities for tourists from November 17-24.

"This event is an important part of the work that Tourism New Zealand is doing to try and turn round the Japanese market, which has been in decline in recent years," Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton said.

Hickton says Tourism New Zealand is trying to shift Japanese people's perception away from thinking of New Zealand as a place with a lot of sheep and beautiful scenery, to a vibrant, modern and sophisticated destination

Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor will open the event at a gala dinner featuring Hayley Westenra and a fashion show including fashion designers Nom D, Huffer, Cybele and Sabatini White.

A unique part of the week will be the gifting of a taonga, a miniature double-hulled waka carved by Hokianga artist Will Ngakuru, by Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor on behalf of New Zealand to the Japanese government.

The Far North District Council and Te Hua o te Kawariki Trust have also agreed to work together to plant a native tree for every Japanese visitor who visits the reserve till the plot is full.

The week coincides with a new $1.8 million tourism campaign launching into the Japanese market.

Since the beginning of the campaign there has been a surge in interest in the Japanese version of newzealand.com with visits jumping from an average of 9,000 visits a week to over 80,000 last week.

For more information click here

Posted by Co-op Travel 7:17 AM 0 comments    

Mount Fuji
Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Mount Fuji is with 3776 metres Japan's highest mountain. It is not surprising that the nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshipped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among artists and common people.

Mount Fuji is a dormant volcano, which most recently erupted in 1708. It stands on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama on clear days.

The easiest way to view Mount Fuji is from the train on a trip along the Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Osaka. If you take the shinkansen from Tokyo in direction of Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka, the best view of Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from around Shin-Fuji Station on the right hand side of the train, about 40 to 45 minutes after leaving Tokyo.

Note however, that clouds and poor visibility often block the view of Mount Fuji, and you have to consider yourself lucky if you get a clear view of the mountain. Visibility tends to be better during the colder seasons of the year than in summer, and in the early morning and late evening hours.

If you want to enjoy Mount Fuji at a more leisurely pace and from a nice natural surrounding, you should head to the Fuji Five Lake region at the northern foot of the mountain, or to Hakone, a nearby hot spring resort.

Mount Fuji is officially open for climbing during July and August via several routes.

Posted by Co-op Travel 6:57 AM 0 comments    

Three New Guides To Gay Japan, Korea & Taiwan Hit The Market
Monday, June 11, 2007

31 May 2007

The first guidebooks to gay and lesbian life in East Asia have just been updated and expanded to include contemporary attractions and entertainment for gay and lesbian visitors to 46 Asian destinations including Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei.

Where exactly is the shrine to the 2-ton wooden phallus? Do Love Motels allow same sex couples? Which lesbian bars welcome foreign women? The answers to these and many other questions can be found in the new 128 page Utopia Guide to Japan.

While Japan has had gay guidebooks circulating since the 18th century (and even a modern guidebook to gay life designed for Japanese heterosexuals), it is only recently that the English-speaking international traveller has been allowed access to the Japan's vibrant subculture.

The Utopia Guide to Japan (2nd Edition) attempts to blast away at popular misconceptions that Japan is prohibitively expensive and is unfriendly to foreigners. On the contrary, the Utopia Guide suggests that after suffering from more than a decade of economic flatlining, Japan is cheaper to visit than most major American cities.

The authors go even further to suggest that current warm welcome for foreigners (and their loose change) is evidenced by English signage posted almost everywhere you go, including signs in Japanese saunas cautioning against "hair dyeing and gum chewing."

Meanwhile, if you want know how to find the Erotic Art Museum in Seoul? Just what goes on at a Jjimjilbang? Ofwhich gay saunas "don't ask don't tell" G.I.s visit? the latest edition of the Utopia Guide to South Korea might be a good jumping off point for your discovery.

According to the Utopia Guide, South Korean men, with their natural machismo, special brand of brotherly "kinship" and easy-going metrosexuality, have recently become sex symbols around the region appealing to both sexes.

Apparently, there have never been laws prohibiting homosexuality in Korea and any attempts to enact official discrimination have been overturned through the efforts of vocal gay and human rights activists, according to the new guide.

Posted by Co-op Travel 3:12 AM 0 comments    

Japan to Increase Flights to India from September
Tuesday, May 1, 2007

30 April 2007

There would be 12 flights a week from Japan to India from September this year, a Japanese Minister said here on Monday.

Minister of Land Infrastructure and Transport Tetsuzo Fuyushiba said Japan will have 12 flights a week to India with Japan Airlines (JAL) raising its flights to five and All Nippon Airways (ANA) to seven by September this year.

A delegation led by Fuyushiba called on Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni here and urged her to take steps so that visas are easily available to the Japanese tourists visting India.

The Japanese Minister expressed commitment to promote tourism and cultural ties between the two counntries.

During their half-an-hour meeting, both the leaders recalled the long and traditional relations between India and Japan.

Japan is one of India's top tourism generating market. In 2005, the figures of tourist arrival from Japan to India reached 102,000. Outbound traffic from India to Japan in 2004 was 53,000.

Soni, while mentioning that 2007 is the Indo-Japan Tourism Exchange Year, stressed the need to bring more tourists into each other's country.

The Minister pointed out that 90 per cent of the package tour itineraries for Japanese tourists include Delhi-Agra (Taj Mahal) - Jaipur Golden Triangle. Varanasi, Khajuraho, Ajanta and Ellora are also frequently visited by Japanese tourists.

Posted by Co-op Travel 4:40 AM 0 comments    

Wooden Postcards Becoming a Popular Tourism Attraction
Tuesday, April 10, 2007

3 April 2007

In 2002, train enthusiast Ho Yuan-fu invented a durable postcard made of wood that travelers could take around Taiwan and use to collect postmarks from various regions.

Little did Ho know that five years later the cards would become one of Taiwan's international symbols and a promotional tool for the tourism industry.

Ho's original wooden postcard - engraved with the image of a train station along the Taiwan Railway Administration's Pingsi line - has since expanded and now feature 60 different graphics.

The cards have now become a tourist attraction in Pingsi Township, where travellers from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Australia buy them to send to relatives back home as a memento.

Ho's enterprise began with a store selling railway memorabilia from around Taiwan next to the Cingtong station on the Pingsi line.

An avid traveller, he made a hobby of gathering collectibles while traveling around the country, including buying postcards to collect postmarks from various regions. Then one day he had an inspiration: Why not make a durable postcard that travellers can take with them and use to collect postmarks from places they travel to?

Wu's first creation featured an engraving of the Cingtong station where his shop was located. After sales of the cards began to take off, he began visiting and photographing other places to offer buyers more choices, including the historic streets in Taipei County's Jioufen Township and sunset in Tamsui.

Ho said he never thought that the postcards would ever become an international symbol. This has inspired him to continue traveling around the country, catching and printing scenes on his postcards and spreading these images of Taiwan around the world.

Postal officials were initially reluctant to let the wooden tablets enter circulation because of the demands their weight would put on mail carriers. But after a year of haggling with the Taiwan Post, Ho finally convinced the administration that the postcards would help raise Taiwan's international visibility and boost tourism.

The post office finally decided to allow his wooden postcards to be sent through the mail by charging extra. It costs NT$10 to send the wooden postcards by mail around Taiwan, NT$20 to Hong Kong, NT$25 to Southeast Asia and NT$35 to the US and Europe.

Posted by Co-op Travel 3:50 AM 0 comments